Bucking the odds
Bucking the odds
The fizz is back (BT cover story, May 31) is a gripping read about Coca-Cola India chief Atul Singh’s exemplary leadership. Where leaders of a lesser calibre would have baulked at defying the faux populism of the marketplace, Singh showed characteristic gumption in effecting a one-shot big price hike of the soft drink. Your story proves that good leaders need not rely too much on cookie-cutter recipes for success and growth.
Sanjay Sinha, through e-mail
Finding the success genie
Very few companies successfully parlay management practices into a winning performance. By clocking eleven consecutive quarters of growth, Coca-Cola India has vaulted its earlier barriers and put itself into the sweet spot for profitable growth. It’s inspiring to read how Coca-Cola India chief, Atul Singh, stepped up to the plate at a time when things were not exactly gung-ho for the company. But thanks to Singh’s fingerprints on key operations, Coca-Cola India has been able to grab pole position among all cola brands today.
V. Sampat, through e-mail
Down but not out
It’s true that the Indian IT industry finds itself whipsawed today, what with the red-hot demand of the late ’90s turning into the deep freeze of recent years. But even in this gloomy hour, the sector would do well than be spooked by pessimists (Indian IT’s Worst Hour, BT, May 17). Today, most Indian IT companies find their margins cut to the bone, besides having to fight off foreign rivals and big kahunas like HP and Cognizant. Perhaps, it’s the right time for the IT industry to take stock and focus on maintaining competitiveness.
A. Jacob Sahayam, through e-mail
Enterprise unlimited
Greenhorn entrepreneurs (BT, MAY 17) is a tribute to the country’s entreprenurial culture. With so many budding entrepreneurs trying out new business ideas, one can say that India no longer lacks in entrepreneurial spirit. What’s creditable about outfits like GoVasool, Ipomo, Kreeo and others mentioned in your story is the way they are holding the high cards in the entrepreneurial game at a time when some bigger companies are losing their reputation. Also, startups like gharkamai.com are helping to raise an army of Bridget Jones by providing employment opportunities to thousands of stay-at-home women in India.
aarthilr@rediffmail.com
Arresting attrition
Are you losing the good people (BT, May 3) shows how most companies in India remain fixated on holding the line on costs. Quite a few companies apply these very principles at the expense of employees’ welfare. Such companies should have the perspicacity to realise that improving the working conditions for employees doesn’t mean that profits have to take it on the chin. By devising appropriate policies, companies will find it easier to keep employees’ turnover to manageable levels.
B. Rajasekaran, through e-mail
Corrections and clarifications
On reading a political web (BT, April 19), I was surprised at your comparison of websites of different political parties. I fail to understand how your correspondent could not find our party manifesto on the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) website. Had your correspondent hit the fifth tab on the top of our website’s homepage, he would have found the manifesto. You also mentioned that the NCP’s website has not been updated since 2005. The website is always updated as and when required and I am surprised how your correspondent could not find the youngest parliamentarian of the 14th Lok Sabha, Agatha Sangma, on our website.
Chandan Bose, PRO, NCP
Our correspondent replies: At the point the story was done (in late March), the NCP’s website was still in an antiquated state and the websites of the INC and BJP were close to their final evolution. This can be checked from the Internet archives, which backs the facts mentioned in the story. The NCP changed the website following the story.
How to contact Business Today
Editor, Business Today, Videocon Tower, 5th Floor, E-1, Jhandewalan Extension,
New Delhi—110055.
E-mail: letters.bt@intoday.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Website: https://www.businesstoday.in/
Unsolicited articles will not be returned or acknowledged
For subscription assistance write to:
Customer Care, India Today Group, A-61, Sector-57,
Noida (U.P.) — 201 301
Phone: (95120) 2479900 from
Delhi & Faridabad; (0120) 2479900
(Monday-Friday; 10 am-6 pm)
from Rest of India;
Toll free no. 1800 1800 100
(from BSNL/ MTNL Lines);
Fax: (0120) 4078080
E-mail: wecarebg@intoday.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
